Police allege children bound with duct tape with gun pointed at them

A shocking image of three-year-old children allegedly bound with duct tape with what appears to be a gun pointed at them has resulted in a Queensland man being charged.

A shocking image of three-year-old children allegedly bound with duct tape with what appears to be a gun pointed at them has resulted in a Queensland man charged with deprivation of liberty and weapons offences.

Detectives from Emerald Criminal Investigation Branch charged a 44-year-old man following the alleged incident last week.

The man was arrested by detectives following a probe into illegal weapons and illicit drugs on an Emerald property on May 26.

A man has been charged with two counts of alleged deprivation of liberty. Picture: Qld Police

Items seized from the property including a mobile phone were forensically examined and found to contain an alleged image depicting two children, bound with duct tape.

In the image the man allegedly can be seen pointing what appears to be a firearm at the children.

Police have further alleged the image had been forwarded on to several other people after being taken.

The man was granted strict bail conditions and is expected to face court next month. Picture: QLD police

Detectives have conducted further investigations and were able to identify the children, both only three years of age and ensure they were safe.

The 44-year-old man has been charged with unlawful possession of category H firearms, dangerous conduct with weapon and two counts of deprivation of liberty.

He has been given strict bail conditions and is expected to appear in the Emerald Magistrates Court on August 26.

The children were known, but not related to the man.

In a separate unrelated incident, detectives arrested and charged a 59-year-old man on Friday, July 18 with allegedly supply of dangerous drugs and sexual offences against a child following concerns raised by concerned community members.

He was arrested at a property in Emerald after extensive investigations into illegal firearms and illicit drugs. Picture: Qld Police

Police allege that between June and July 2025 the man provided dangerous drugs to a child and committed sexual offences against the same child.

The man has been charged with the grooming of a child under 16 years, rape, supplying dangerous drugs to a minor and breach of bail.

He has been remanded in custody to appear in Emerald Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 22.

Officer in Charge of Emerald CIB Detective Sergeant Dylan Brook thanked the community members for coming forward to assist police and the alleged victims.

“I would like to thank the community members for having the courage to report the matters to the police and supporting the victim survivors,” Det Sgt Brook said.

“The Emerald police are committed to supporting victims of sexual abuse with compassion and work diligently and tirelessly to hold offenders accountable through the court system.”

Originally published as Police allege children bound with duct tape with gun pointed at them